We did a survey asking people if they think shops should be open the day after Christmas and 85 per cent believe they should not.

Dawn Morris wrote: ‘I totally agree. Feel sorry for the staff that have to work x’

While Tim Skinner pointed out ‘people have a choice not to go.’

Danny Hooper is a little more selfish: ‘I agree, no one should work as a mark of respect for my birthday.

A chap called Ian Lapworth started the petition simply called ‘Stop shops opening on Boxing Day!’.

Some people are fed up with Boxing Day shopping (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)

He said: ‘Shops, especially supermarkets, do not need to open on Boxing Day.

‘While not everyone may see Christmas as a religious holiday, it should be respected as such, and retail workers (who work so hard on the run up to the big day) given some decent family time to relax and enjoy the festivities like everyone else.

‘Most retail workers are on the go up to Christmas Eve, then back on Boxing Day. Sometimes they have no choice.

‘We managed 30 and 40 years ago… when shops were sometimes shut for a whole week.

‘Let’s get back to the way it was. Forget making money for one day, let’s concentrate on making more memories with the ones we love. ‘